Most Russians back Moscow's plans to deploy Iskander missiles

MOSCOW, November 22 (RIA Novosti) - Some 65% of Russians said they backed Moscow's plans to place short-range missiles in Russia's Kaliningrad Region, but were worried that the ties with the West would worsen following the move, an opinion poll said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier threatened to deploy Iskander-M short-range missiles in the country's Kaliningrad exclave, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania, if the U.S. missile defense system was deployed in Central Europe.

The Levada Center's November survey said only 19% of the respondents said they did not support the plans, while 16% refused to answer.

However, according to the survey, 59% of the respondents said that the relations between Russia and the West would deteriorate if Moscow deployed Iskander-M missiles, while 38% of the respondents said that there was "nothing serious in the move."

Another 21% of the respondents said that Moscow's plans were dangerous for both Russia and the rest of the world. Some 19% of the respondents said that they were not afraid of a worsening of relations between Russia and the West.

Moscow has fiercely opposed the planned deployment of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic saying they will pose a threat to its security. Washington has said the bases are needed to counter possible strikes from "rogue" states like Iran.